Gate-latch.



wifhesaes W. E. SAUERIVIAN.

GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION men JULY12,1915.

TH B COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00., WASHINGTON, D. c.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

WILLIAM E. SAUERMAN, F OGDEN, IOWA.

GATE-LATCH.

Application filed July 12, 1915.

Z 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. SAUER- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Ogden, in the county of Boone and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Grate-Latch, of which the following is a specification.

he object of my invention is to provide a gate latch of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

A further object is to provide a gate latch in combination with gate operated means so constructed and arranged that the latch tends to normally stand in one predetermined position, the parts being so arranged that by raising one portion of the latch it may be supported upon a gate portion for holding the engaged portion out of the latch away from the keeper and may have an arm adapted to be engaged by a gate post for moving the parts to position for engaging the keeper when the gate is swung toward the post.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a gate embodying my invention, partly broken away and partly in section. Fig. 2 shows a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a top or plan View of the forward end of the gate, and Fig. 4 shows a similar View with the gate partly open.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral to indicate generally the post to which a gate 11 is hinged. The gate 11 may be of suitable construction as shown having an upper pair of spaced horizontal members 12.

Pivoted to a part of the gate frame and for instance to the diagonal member 19 is a latch member 21 extending forwardly between the frame members 15. Mounted on the members below the latch member 12 is a casing 22. A rod 23 is pivoted to the latch member 21 and extends downwardly into the casing 22 and has on its lower end a washer or the like 24. A spring is mounted on the rod 23 between the upper end of the casing 22 and the washer 24 for Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

Serial No. 39,485.

normally holding the latch member 21 at the lower limit of its movement.

Adjacent to the front end of the gate, when closed, is a post 26, on which is a keeper 27 having the upper beveled face 28, which may be of any ordinary form.

Pivoted to the latch member 21 between its end and extending upwardly therefrom is a latch operating member 29 which will now be described.

In the upper end of the member 29 is formed a crank portion 30 at the upper end of which is formed a latch 31 on which is an extension 32 adapted in certain positions of the gate and the latch members to engage a post 26. The member 29, and the lower part. of the crank 30 extend between the spaced horizontal gate member 12, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the actual use of my improved gate when the gate is closed, the spring 25 holds the latch member downwardly into the keeper 27. The lower part of the crank is received between the gate members 12, so that stock cannot operate the latch moving mechanism, without raising the crank. hen it is desired to open the gate, the operator grasps the member 32 or the latch 31 or both, and raises them, thereby raising the latch member 21 out of the keeper 27. The gate may then be swung outwardly and by slightly rotating the member 29 until the lower part of the crank 31 rests upon the members 12, the latch may be left in its open position with the member 21 held upwardly against the pressure of the spring 25, and with the arm 32 extended toward the post. If the gate is swung toward its closed position the member 32 will engage the post, thereby swinging the parts to position where the lower part of the crank 31 will operate between the members 12 to permit the latch member 21 to move to its closed po sition. Thus it will be seen that the gate will latch automatically when swung to closed position.

The lower part of the crank 30 is inclined from the member 29 slightly upwardly, so that when the arm 32 is raised, it permits the highest part or the lowest part of the crank 30 to rest upon the members 12, then by swinging the arm 32 laterally, the latch 21 may be raised on account of the inclined form of the lower part of the crank 30. The operator need not raise the latch 21 the entire distance against the spring 25, but can by turning the handle member 32 secure some leverage for raising the parts on the inclined surface of the lower part of the crank 30.

It will be understood that some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my improved gate latch without departing from its essential features and purposes, and it is my intent to cover by this application any such changes which may be included within the scope of my claims.

I claim as my invention.

1. Ina device of the class described, the combination of a hinged gate, a post adjacent to the free. end thereof, with a keeper on the post, a latch member pivotally mounted on the gate, a latch member pivoted to said first latch member and adapted when in one position to engage a part of the gate for holding the first latch member in raised position, and also having a portion adapted to engage the post when the gate is swung toward closed position for moving the second latch member to position for releasing the first latch member.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hinged gate, a post adjacent to the free end thereof, with a keeper on the post, a l atch member pivotally mounted on the gate, a second latch member pivotedto said first latch member and adapted when in one position to engage a part of the gate for holding the first latch member in raised position, and also having a'portion adapted to. engage the post when the gate is swung toward closed position for moving the second latch'member to position for releasing the first latch member, and yielding means. for holding said first latch member in its lowered position.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a gate having spaced parts receiving a latch member, a latch member copies of this patent, may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0."

pivoted to said gate, a second latch member extending upwardly between said spaced parts and having a portion extending at right angles to the part which is pivoted to 'thefirst latch member, and adapted to be received between said spaced gate parts, a portion comiected with and extending away from said right angled extension, the parts being so arranged that when the second latch member is raised, said right angled extension may be made to rest upon the gate parts for holding the first latch member raised, said last described portion of said second latch member being then in position to be engaged by a post when the gate is swung to closed position.

i. In a device of the class described, the combination of a gate having spaced parts receiving a latch member, latch member pivoted to said gate, a second latch member extending upwardly between said spaced parts and having a portion extending at right angles to the part which is pivoted to the first latch member, and adapted to be received between said spaced gate parts, a portion connected with and extending away from said right angled extension, the parts being so arranged that when the second latch member is raised, said right angled extension may be made to rest upon the gate parts for holding the first latch member raised, said. last described portion of said second latch member being then in position to be engaged by a post when the gate is swung to closed position, the post adjacent to the free end. of the gate and keeper thereon having a beveled edge, and yielding means on said first latch member for holding it at the lower limit of its movement.

Des; Moines, Iowa, June 27, 1915.

WILLIAM E. SAUERMAN.

Witnesses WV. W. Rosnn, H. L. BAss.

Commissioner of Patents, 

